Carmelo Anthony Close To Being Traded To Nets

Denver — A busy weekend of roller-coaster activity on the Carmelo Anthony trade front has ushered the New Jersey Nets to the brink of a deal for the superstar forward for the second time, according to sources close to the negotiations.

Thanks to the recruitment of the Detroit Pistons as a third-party facilitator, New Jersey’s longstanding attempts to pry Anthony away from Denver are “further along” than any trade scenario that has been discussed since the Nets’ near acquisition of the All-Star in late September, sources close to the negotiations said Sunday.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the talks expressed optimism Sunday that a three-team deal involving the Pistons featuring at least 15 players — with Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups winding up in New Jersey with Anthony — could be completed in the next day or two.